Chapter 22: Guaranteed Refund if Ineffective—Such Confidence

“Xiao Lu, have you finished making that ointment for rheumatism and leg pain?”

The visitor was Aunt Fang from the alley, one of the skeptical ones, yet surprisingly, she was the very first person to come knocking to ask about the medicine.

“Aunt Fang, it’s ready. Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Lu Jiaor nodded in response and didn’t turn her away. From Aunt Fang’s words, it was clear someone in her household had leg and foot discomfort.

“My husband’s old cold legs are acting up again in this weather. The usual medicine doesn’t seem to work anymore. I heard you make this kind of ointment, so I came to ask.”

Aunt Fang was straightforward about her purpose. She was desperate, having tried injections, pills, and various remedies without success. She had tried many folk prescriptions, and as long as it wasn’t something to be ingested, she was willing to try Lu Jiaor’s ointment.

Maybe it would work!

“Wait here, Aunt Fang, I’ll get you a small bottle to take home and try.”

After understanding her intent, Lu Jiaor readily went inside to fetch the ointment, never considering charging her.

“Auntie, apply it three times a day for the first three days—morning, noon, and night—massaging as you go. After that, once a day should suffice. Use up this bottle first and see how it works.”

Her ointment wasn’t contained in the jade bottles typical in the cultivation world for pills, but in ordinary small ceramic jars, each holding 100 milliliters and costing a mere fraction of a coin.

“Hey, Xiao Lu, I really have to thank you this time. If your ointment works for my husband, I’ll make sure everyone knows. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone you didn’t charge me.”

Aunt Fang’s smile was bright as she spoke, grateful and respectful upon learning Lu Jiaor wouldn’t charge her.

In truth, Lu Jiaor was pleased with this arrangement, smiling in mutual understanding. A win-win situation; both benefited, no issues.

Had Lu Jiaor charged, Aunt Fang might have hesitated, questioning whether the cost was worth it without knowing the effect. But knowing it was free made her heart lighter and more willing to try.

No sooner had she brought the ointment home than Aunt Fang eagerly applied it to her husband.

“Old Li, I got some ointment from the new girl in our alley, Xiao Lu. She made it herself and wants you to try it.”

Aunt Fang didn’t mention that Lu Jiaor hadn’t charged for it, only that it was for trial.

Old Li was too pained to think much, and though skeptical that a young girl could make something effective, he was willing to try since it wasn’t ingested.

So, with his consent, Aunt Fang applied the fragrant green ointment to his legs and knees, massaging it in as per Lu Jiaor’s instructions.

One minute, two minutes, three minutes passed.

“Huh, it feels warm, and the pain seems less severe.”

Old Li initially felt a warming sensation, then noticed the pain easing somewhat.

Twenty minutes later.

“This ointment really works. I feel much better now, less discomfort.”

Aunt Fang massaged for over ten minutes until tired, then stopped. She had barely rested when her husband exclaimed with excitement.

“Does it really work?”

Aunt Fang was a bit doubtful, thinking it might be his imagination.

“There’s still some pain, some discomfort, but it’s tolerable now. I’d say the symptoms have lessened by half.”

After a careful assessment, Old Li nodded with certainty, though he noted that previous ointments had similar effects and that several applications were needed to truly judge efficacy.

“That’s good, that’s good. As long as it eases your pain, this ointment is a good one.”

“Wow, I didn’t expect this young Xiao Lu to have such skill at her age.”

Aunt Fang was both excited and pleased; despite her initial skepticism, she was glad she had come to ask.

“Yes, even if it doesn’t cure the root cause, as long as it eases the pain.”

Old Li harbored similar thoughts; he dared not hope for a complete cure, only for manageable pain.

Aunt Fang nodded in agreement but inwardly resolved that regardless of the ointment’s effectiveness, she would spread word of the young girl. If the ointment was affordable, everyone could use it, and it might provide some income for Xiao Lu. As long as she wasn’t a fraud, at least her livelihood would be secure.

That night, before going to bed, Old Li applied the ointment again and slept soundly.

The next morning, after another application, he felt the pain had lessened by another third, filling him with hope.

Upon hearing this, Aunt Fang was so delighted that she brought Lu Jiaor a pound of eggs and a pound of candied fruit that very evening.

Lu Jiaor wasn’t surprised by Aunt Fang’s visit and accepted the gifts graciously.

A small, simple ointment without complex craftsmanship, essentially a refined version of a healing pill from the cultivation world—if it didn’t work, Lu Jiaor might as well give up.

By the third morning of use, Old Li’s pain was reduced to a negligible level.

It was the dawn of hope and a bright future.

That same day, Aunt Fang went door to door among the neighbors, telling everyone that her husband’s rheumatism and old cold legs had improved significantly thanks to the new ointment made by the young girl from the alley, Xiao Lu. The effect was undeniable, and the girl was impressive.

She wasn’t just boasting; that evening, in front of everyone, she personally delivered a pound of pork to Lu Jiaor.

This convinced many skeptics, especially the older women and men who had lived through hard times and all suffered from leg and back problems.

Before Aunt Fang left, two more women from the neighborhood came together.

“What?! Five yuan a bottle?! And it’s such a small amount?!”

“Xiao Lu, don’t you think that’s a bit expensive?”

“Yeah, we’re all neighbors here. One or two yuan should be enough. Couldn’t you cut a little slack for us old folks?”

Upon hearing that the ointment cost five yuan a bottle, they gasped, feeling it was somewhat unreasonable.

Expensive—too expensive.

It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford it, but hospital medicines cost only a few dimes per bottle, with the pricier ones just over a yuan. Five yuan seemed like robbery.

Hearing the price, Aunt Fang was also stunned, hardly believing her ears. Fortunately, she kept her composure but wisely said nothing.

For Lu Jiaor, the price was reasonable. Though her ingredients were common in this world, the real value lay in using the alchemical furnace from the cultivation realm.

The cost was in the furnace.

“Aunt Cai, Aunt Ma, how about this? Besides Aunt Fang, you two are my second group of customers. I’ll charge only three yuan a bottle for now. Also, there are only ten slots available, so it’s first come, first served.”

After some thought, Lu Jiaor decided to establish a reputation first—good wine needs no bush, but some word of mouth never hurts.

She needed satisfied users to spread the word—free advertising from people coming to her.

“By the way, if it doesn’t work, I’ll give a full refund.”

No fake compensation of tenfold, but she was confident.

“Xiao Lu, if it clearly works and others claim it doesn’t, wouldn’t that just let them take advantage of you?”

Aunt Fang was pleased that Lu Jiaor was giving neighbors a discount but worried about her last statement.

Because, unfortunately, such people were not rare.

After hearing this, Lu Jiaor smiled faintly and said confidently, “That’s fine. If that happens, I’ll refund them. But if they come back again, don’t blame me for refusing to help. I won’t sell them another bottle.”

In this world, whether rich or poor, illness spares no one. When sick, one must seek treatment.

Thus, throughout history, no one should ever offend doctors.

…

Author’s note:

Negative emotions are truly harmful.

This chapter was written after a night spent on Douyin, enduring a heavy dose of patriotic education there, finally calming down enough to type it out. I think it turned out okay.

I hope everyone continues to support me!

Love you all, and may you always be in good spirits!